Gayle paid the penalty for the fatal error of judgement

Chris Gayle and Daren Ganga shared a century partnership as West Indies made a solid start to the third Test against India in St Kitts.

They put on 143 for the first wicket before Gayle misjudged the line of a delivery from paceman Munaf Patel and was bowled for 83.

But Ganga was unbeaten on 64 out of a score of 207-1 at the close.

Only 64 overs were possible after heavy overnight rain resulted in a three-hour delay at the start of play.

There was a further 25-minute hold-up early in the afternoon session, but Gayle and Ganga were soon into their stride against an Indian attack which included only two fast bowlers for the first time in the series.

Irfan Pathan was left out to accommodate Harbhajan Singh's return as a second spinner in support of Anil Kumble.

But it was a switch which did not pay off as an understandably rusty Harbhajan conceded 57 from 12 overs.

Gayle was severe on anything erring in line and length and hit five sixes and eight fours as he passed 4,000 Test runs in his 60th appearance.

Despite the promise of a result pitch following draws in Antigua and St Lucia, the Indian attack was unable to extract much assistance.

And it came as a surprise when Gayle offered no stroke and lost his off stump with a century there for the taking.

Ganga was sedate by contrast but battled his way to his seventh Test fifty off 142 deliveries with a single off Kumble.

He remained content to play second fiddle, however, as he and Ramnaresh Sarwan added 64 before the close.

Sarwan collected eight fours in his 44 not out, two of them in one over from Kumble, who ended the day with figures of 0-54.

But both he and Ganga survived a number of lbw appeals from the two Indian spinners in the final session.

West Indies made one change for the game with spin bowling all-rounder Marlon Samuels coming into the side in place of Ian Bradshaw.